Fan assembly

ABSTRACT

A fan assembly for being installed within an external device comprises a plurality of fans each having a fan bracket, a fan wheel hub, a set of fan blades and a driving unit. Each fan wheel hub is installed within a corresponding fan bracket. Each set of fan blades is mounted around a corresponding fan wheel hub. Each driving unit is installed in a corresponding fan wheel hub for rotating the fan blades. The fan assembly further includes a plurality of shock-absorbing support units and a plurality of recesses respectively formed on at least an outer wall of each of the fan brackets for the attachment of the support units. Thereby, when mounted on the device, the fans will be in a tight and flexible contact and will be cushioned by the support units, so that the vibrations of the fan brackets caused by the driving units will be reduced.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fan assemblies, more particularly to a fan assembly consisting of a plurality of fans. The fan assembly is characterized by a plurality of support units, by which the vibrations caused by driving units on the fan wheel hubs and the fan brackets will be reduced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a fan assembly 1 of the prior art comprises a plurality of fans 11 each having a fan bracket 111, a fan wheel hub 112 a installed within the fan bracket 111, a set of fan blades 112 b mounted around the fan wheel hub 112 a and a driving unit 113 installed in the fan wheel hub 112 a for rotating the fan blades 112 b; the driving unit 113 can be an electric motor. A plurality of through holes 111 c is formed around the front face 111 a, going through the fan bracket 111 to the rear face 111 b thereof, for the attachment of the fan assembly 1 to another device. The driving unit 113 drives the fan blades 112 b to produce airflow for cooling the device the fan assembly 1 attached to.

Referring to FIG. 3, the fan assembly 1 is installed on a device 2 to be cooled. The device 2 is provided with a plurality of retaining plates 21, each having screw holes 211 corresponding to the through holes 111 c of the fan assemblies 1, whereby a plurality of screw units 211 a will be respectively inserted through the screw holes 211 on the retaining plates 21, the corresponding through holes 111 c on the fan assemblies 1 for securing the fan assemblies 1 on the device 2.

The fan assembly 1 of the prior art has the disadvantages as follows.

(1) When the driving units are running, there will be vibrations produced on the fan brackets, resulting in a mutual influence between the fans.

(2) The vibrations of the fan brackets cause noises.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide a fan assembly wherein a plurality of fans can be connected by direct contact of their fan brackets.

The secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a fan assembly wherein the vibrations caused by driving units on the fan wheel hubs and the fan brackets will be reduced.

It is a further objective of the present invention that the fans are in a tight and flexible contact when mounted on a device.

It is a further objective of the present invention that the combined structure of the fans is reinforced by the way they are connected and by the support units disposed between the fans.

The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fan assembly of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fan assembly in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fan assembly in FIG. 1 installed within an external device.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention as a fan assembly.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fan assembly in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fan assembly in FIG. 4 installed within an external device.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention as a fan assembly.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the fan assembly in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the fan assembly in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the fan assembly in FIG. 7 installed within an external device.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the fan assembly mounted within an external device in FIG. 3.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the fan assembly mounted within an external device in FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a front schematic view of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the first preferred embodiment of the present invention as a fan assembly 3 comprises a plurality of fans 31 each having a fan bracket 311, a fan wheel hub 312 a installed within the fan bracket 311, a set of fan blades 312 b mounted around the fan wheel hub 312 a and a driving unit 313 installed in the fan wheel hub 312 a for rotating the fan blades 312 b; the driving unit 313 can be an electric motor. A plurality of through holes 311 c is formed around the front face 311 a, going through the fan bracket 311 to the rear face 311 b thereof, for the attachment of the fan assembly 3 to another device. An outer wall 311 d of the fan bracket 311 is further provided with at least a recess 311 e for the installation of a shock-absorbing support unit 311 f; in this preferred embodiment the recesses 311 e are depressed local areas on the outer walls 311 d. Each of the support units 311 f consists of at least a sheet 311 g made of metallic or plastic materials and a shock-absorbing member 311 h. The shock-absorbing member 311 h and the sheet 311 g can be different portions of an integral support unit 311 f or separate parts.

Referring to FIG. 6, the fan assembly 3 is installed on a device 4 to be cooled. The device 4 is provided with a plurality of retaining plates 41, each having screw holes 411 corresponding to the through holes 311 c of the fan assemblies 3, whereby a plurality of screw units 411 a will be respectively inserted through the screw holes 411 on the retaining plates 41, the corresponding through holes 311 c on the fan assemblies 3 for securing the fan assemblies 3 on the device 4.

When the fan brackets 311 are being mounted on the device 4, the support units 311 f of each of the fan bracket 311 will be in a tight contact with the device 4, whereby the structural strength of the fan brackets 311 will be reinforced, and whereby the vibrations caused by the driving unit 313 on the fan wheel hub 312 a will be significantly reduced.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the second preferred embodiment of the present invention as a fan assembly 5 comprises a plurality of fans 51 each having a fan bracket 511, a fan wheel hub 512 a installed within the fan bracket 511, a set of fan blades 512 b mounted around the fan wheel hub 512 a and a driving unit 513 installed in the fan wheel hub 512 a for rotating the fan blades 512 b; the driving unit 513 can be an electric motor. A plurality of through holes 511 c is formed around the front face 511 a, going through the fan bracket 511 to the rear face 511 b thereof, for the attachment of the fan assembly 5 to another device. An outer wall 511 d of the fan bracket 511 is further provided with at least a recess 511 e for the engagement with a support unit 511 f; in this preferred embodiment the recesses 511 e are spaces formed by the depression of the outer walls 511 d. Each of the support units 511 f consists of at least a shell 511 g made of metallic or plastic materials and a shock-absorbing member 511 h. The shock-absorbing member 511 h and the shell 511 g can be different portions of an integral support unit 511 f or separate parts.

Referring to FIG. 10, the fan assembly is installed on a device 4 to be cooled. The device 4 is provided with a plurality of retaining plates 41, each having screw holes 411 corresponding to the through holes 511 c of the fan assemblies 5, whereby a plurality of screw units 411 a will be respectively inserted through the screw holes 411 on the retaining plates 41, the corresponding through holes 511 c on the fan assemblies 5 for securing the fan assemblies 5 on the device 4.

When the fan brackets 511 are being mounted on the device 4, the support units 511 f of each of the fan bracket 511 will be in a tight contact with the device 4, whereby the structural strength of the fan brackets 511 will be reinforced, and whereby the vibrations caused by the driving unit 513 on the fan wheel hub 512 a will be significantly reduced.

Referring to FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the preferred embodiments of the present invention and a fan assembly of the prior art differ in the additional structure of recesses 31le, 511 e formed on the fan brackets 311, 511, whereby the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be equipped with shock-absorbing support units. Therefore, the structural strength of the fan brackets 311, 511 when attached on a device 4 will be reinforced, and the vibrations caused of a fan wheel hub as its fan blades are being driven to rotate by a driving unit will be significantly reduced.

The present invention is thus described, and it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A fan assembly for being installed within an external device, comprising: a plurality of fans each having a fan bracket, a fan wheel hub, a set of fan blades and a driving unit, said fan wheel hub being installed within said fan bracket, said fan blades being mounted around said fan wheel hub, said driving unit being installed in said fan wheel hub for rotating said fan blades; a plurality of shock-absorbing support units; a plurality of recesses respectively formed on at least an outer wall of each of said fan brackets for the attachment of said support units; whereby, when mounted on said external device, said fans will be in a tight and flexible contact and will be cushioned by said support units, and whereby the vibrations of said fan brackets caused by said driving units will be reduced.
 2. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein said support units each consist of a shell portion and a shock-absorbing portion.
 3. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said support units is an integral body.
 4. The fan assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said support units is an integral body.
 5. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein each pair of said shell portion and a said shock-absorbing portion are separate parts of one said support unit.
 6. The fan assembly of claim 2 wherein each pair of said shell portion and a said shock-absorbing portion are separate parts of one said support unit.
 7. The fan assembly of claim 2 wherein said shell portion is made of a selected metallic material.
 8. The fan assembly of claim 2 wherein said shell portion is made of a selected plastic material.
 9. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein said recesses are depressed areas formed on selected outer walls of said fan brackets.
 10. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein said recesses are inward spaces provided by selected concave outer walls of said fan brackets. 